HMP Academies

The Authority is looking for suppliers to join a framework for HMP Academies.

The Employability Innovation Fund was announced in the Prisons Strategy White Paper to "enable Governors to work with more employers and training providers to repurpose workshops, deliver sector specific skills training to meet the changing needs of the economy and smooth the path from prison to employment"

As a result, His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is now seeking to develop its academy delivery model within prison work and learning environments and is seeking to do so in partnership with more employers to deliver sector specific skills training to meet the changing needs of the economy and smooth the path from prison to employment.

We know that having a job to go to on release from prison can significantly reduce the chance of reoffending and employers can benefit from securing committed and skilled people to fill gaps in the UK economy.

HMP Academies are workspaces hosted by employers that have a clear emphasis on providing specialist vocational training and offer the prisoners participating in them significant skills development and employment opportunities that can significantly impact reducing re-offending rates. Whilst there are a small number already established in prisons, we want to do much more.

To achieve this, we are seeking to procure additional HMP Academies hosted by employers by engaging with a diverse range of businesses from across all sectors that can offer prisoners a second chance

HMP Academies are separate to the Future Skills Programme (FSP) (procurement to commence March 2023) and Prisoner Education Service (PES) programme for which some suppliers may have already registered for market engagement. These programmes are separate but form part of our overarching ambition to ensure prisoners can access the skills and qualifications they need to get into employment on release.

The PES programme will deliver future Adult Prisoner Education Services (PES) in England. We have commenced Market Warming with a wide range of prospective suppliers, If you have not registered for PES market warming and next steps you can still obtain information register here https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/a3b29677-949f-42c2-98be-250417ef9603 . We anticipate commencing the Core Education procurement for PES this summer.

The Authority is using the Jaggaer electronic eSourcing Portal (formerly Bravo) for the procurement. The ITT, which is comprised of a number of volumes, is available only in electronic format via the eSourcing Portal. Bidders must register the names of all contacts requiring access to the sourcing event and should submit queries via the eSourcing Portal.

Link to the eSourcing Portal: https://ministryofjusticecommercial.bravosolution.co.uk/web/login.html

Additional information: This requirement has been classified as being subject to the Light Touch Regime under the Public Contract Regulations 2015. Under the Light Touch Regime, the Authority is not obliged to observe the full requirements of the Regulations, including the detailed rules and timescales applicable to the procurement procedures covered by the Regulations. This is irrespective of the use of this standard notice (the Authority is unable to use the Light Touch Regime notice for technical compatibility reasons). The Authority will comply with its equal treatment, transparency, non-discrimination and proportionality obligations throughout the procurement.

Award of contract: The Authority is not committed to any course of action as a result of this Contract Notice. It is not liable for any costs incurred in respect of expressing an interest, participating in dialogue or in tendering for this opportunity. The Authority reserves the right to abandon or terminate the procurement and not to award a contract at its own discretion. Nothing in this Contract Notice shall generate any contractual obligations prior to the signature of a Contract

Important notice: This Contract Notice must be read in full together with the procurement documents being released at this stage of the procurement. Bidders are reminded that participation in this procurement will be subject to the conditions of participation set out in the procurement documents and the eSourcing Portal.

Transparency: HM Government requires that tender documentation issued by government departments for contracts exceeding 10 000 GBP over the life of the contract are published online (www.gov.uk/contractsfinder) for the general public. The resulting contract shall also be published. The Authority may use its discretion to redact information to protect key commercial interest or on prescribed grounds. Therefore potential providers who wish information not to be published, if successful, should secure agreements with the Authority prior to submission. These could cover key commercial interest, trade secrets and commercial interests which would be prejudiced by publication, all following the test in section 43 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.